Carraroenia ruthae gen. et sp. nov. (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Laophontidae) from maerl substrates of the Irish west coast

Abstract

Carraroenia ruthae gen. et sp. nov. is described from maerl beds at An Dóilín, Carraroe, County Galway, Ireland. This genus is considered to be closely related to the genus group comprising Psammplatypus, Coullia, Phycolaophonte, Hemilaophonte and Robustunguis, which had been linked based on the reduced P2 endopod and the primitive setation of the male P5 baseoendopod. Carraroenia is regarded as the most primitive genus of this lineage, as evidenced by the 3segmented male P3 endopod, the lack of reduction in the P3–P4 endopods, the retention of the inner seta on P2–P4 exp-2 and the presence of 2 inner setae in P4 enp-2.

Philippiphonte aspidosoma gen. et sp. n., a radically divergent member of the Laophontidae from shell gravel in the East Sea, South Korea, including a review of Folioquinpes Fiers & Rutledge, 1990 (Copepoda, Harpacticoida)

“…The significance of patterns of swimming leg sexual dimorphism in unravelling relationships among certain laophontid lineages has been demonstrated repeatedly in a number of studies (e.g., Lee and Huys 1999; Gómez and Boyko 2006; McCormack 2006; Huys and Lee 2009). However, except for the apophysis on the male P3 endopod (Figure 6C) no other sexual dimorphism is expressed on legs 2–4 of P. aspidosoma .…”

A new genus (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Laophontidae) from Jeju Island of Korea

“…Lee and Huys (1999) discussed the relationship between Psammoplatypus and related genera based on the reduced P2 endopod, the swimming leg sexual dimorphism and the ovate shape of female P5 exopod. Additionally, McCormack (2006) observed that the species Carraroenia ruthae McCormack, 2006 shares some characters with this lineage. Huys (2009) consequently suggested that Phycolaophonte and Eolaophonte should be subsumed into the synonymy of Coullia and provided a key to genera which have reduced P2 including the five genera Carraroenia , Coullia , Hemilaophonte , Psammoplatypus and Robustunguis .…”

“…The new genus, Jejulaophonte is placed in the subfamily Laophontinae based on character sets including the sub-chirocer male antennule, the typically uniramous mandible, the syncoxa of maxilliped armed with maximum only two setae, the P1 enp-1 without inner seta, the reduced P2 enp-2 without outer spine, and the proximal outer setae of female P5 exopod with a distinctly separated insertion site. Jejulaophonte is closely related to five genera ( Carraroenia McCormack, 2006, Coullia Hamond, 1973, Hemilaophonte Jakubisiak 1933, Psammoplatypus Lee & Huys, 1999, and Robustunguis Fiers, 1992), the CCHPR-lineage, based on the reduced P2 endopod (Laophontidae typically has P2 larger than P3), the ovate shape of female P5 exopod, and the sexual dimorphism in the P3 endopod (Gomez and Boyko 2006, Huys 2009, McCormack 2006). Fiers (1992a, b) claimed that the main reason for some species of the genera Robustunguis and Hemilaophonte having reduced appendages is to adapt to their host.…”

“…On the other hand, Jejulaophonte shares the primitive characters of five setae on P1 exp-2 with Coullia insularis (Pallares, 1975), Coullia tongariki (Gomez & Boyko, 2006), and Psammoplatypus discipes (Noodt, 1958), one or two inner setae on P4 exp-3 with Coullia insularis , and Coullia tongariki (Table 1). However, Carraroenia can be regarded as the most primitive genus in the lineage rather than Jejulaophonte and Psammoplatypus , by having two inner setae in P4 enp-2, the retention of a inner seta on P2 exp-2 and the primitive P5 armed with six setae on exopod and with five setae on baseoendopod (Mccormack 2006). According to Huys’ (2009) key, the new genus belongs to the group with Carraroenia and Pasmmoplatypus by having an inner seta on P4 exp-2.…”

First insights into the meiofauna community of a maerl bed in the Bay of Brest (Brittany)

“…The few studies on meiofauna suggest that maerl beds support a high biodiversity, including a high diversity of bivalves compared with other substrata (Jackson et al 2004) and a new genus of Copepoda from the Irish west coast (McCormack 2006). Furthermore, a high species richness of foraminifera on Scottish coasts has led maerl beds to become an important near-shore habitat in regional studies of benthic foraminiferal distribution/ecology (Austin and Cage 2010).…”